Quick-release automatic strap buckle



Jan. 16, 1951 E. cQ ELSNER QUICK-RELEASE AUTOMATIC STRAP BUCKLE Filed Aug. 11, 1947 Snvutor [0W/N CELS/VER Gttomeg Patented Jan. 16,4 1951 QUICK-RELEASE AUTOMATIC STRAP BUCKLE Edwin C. Elsner, Burbank, Calif., assignor to C. J. W. Corporation, North Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of California Application August l11, 1947, Serial No. 767,875

8 Claims. (Cl. 224-170) a buckle whereby desired tautnessof a strap can be attained, whereby said taut ess will be retained, and whereby quick release of said tautness is effected for quick separation of the buckle parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle, as indicated, which embodies automatic strap gripping means effective to retain the strap under tension, whereby a simple pull on one end of the strap elfects further tensioning thereof, and whereby quick release of the strap is eiected and separation of the buckle parts made possible by a simple manual push on an element of. the buckle.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a strap buckle, novel strap gripping means that is automatically effective for gripping a strap, automatically releases upon a pull on a free end of said strap, and is adapted to be manually re- '25 tion and easily disconnected therefrom, econom-V ical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.' ',lhe invention .also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, vwhich will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, and is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts Vin the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the present buckle in operation connecting the ends of a strap.

roller means Ill mounted transversely of the frame at an intermediate part thereof for a loop II of said strap trained therearound so that the bight I2 of the'strap between its ends is below a free end I3 of the strap end 6, means I4 for gripping the strap to maintain tension thereof, and extension I5 of the latter means and engaged with the strap to urge the gripping means into strap gripping position, means I6 carried by the frame and having overstanding relation to the extension to protect the same against inadvertent movement, and means Il on the end 5 of the strap and having separable engagement with said frame.

The frame 9 is shown as formed of rod or heavy wire and is substantially rectangular having sides I8, an end I9, and a depressed end opposite to the latter. Theframe, of course, may be suitably formed in other Ways.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the buckle.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View as taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

The illustrated buckle is shown as connecting the ends 5 and 6 of a strap l to tightly and rmly hold a cargo load 8 while the same is being moved. The buckle comprises, generally, a frame 9.

, The roller means I0 comprises a transverse pin or axle 2| welded to the sides I8 intermediate the length of the frame and preferably somewhat nearer to the end I9, and a freely rotatable tube 22 on said pin, said tube thereby comprising a roller over which the loop II of the strap is trained. It will be noted that the bight I2 of the strap extends over the frame end 2U and then under and around roller 22.

Thegripping means I4 comprises a bracket which includes a plate or bar/23 arranged trans- `versely across the frame sides I8 and adjacent to the end 2t thereof, a pair of integral ears 24 of f said plate 23 extending upwardly on either side of the frame, a transverse pin 25 extending between the ears above said plate, and a preferably knurled eccentric roller 26 mounted on said pin to rock therearouncl. The plate 23 is welded to the frame in spaced relation to roller 22 and the free end I3 of the strap extends from the strap loop II and over said plate. The eccentric roller 26 is designed to effectively grip the strap end I3 between itself and said plate 23. n

In normal use, as indicated in Fig. l, the strap bight I2 is under tension to, thereby, exertra pull to the left (in Fig. 3) of the free strap end I3. This pull, when the knurled surface of eccentric 26 is frictionally in contact with the strap, causes rock ofthe latter to effect rmer gripping. Consequently, the stronger the tension on the strap bight I2the firmer the grip of the means I4 on the strap end I3.

'The extension I5 comprises a rigid lever -21 ori gripping roller 25 and extending toward the roller 22. The end of said lever is preferably curved at 28 for smooth, non-sagging impinging engagement with the upper surface 29 of that portion of the strap that extends between the rollers 22 and 26. The lever 2l is so angularly directed toward said surface 29 that the saine seeks the mentioned engagement. When the strap end i3 is slack, as shown by the dot-dash lines of Fig. 3, the roller;` 2li-- has` only slight or no contact with said strapJ end;` and by keeping said: end slack by a manual pressure on lever 2l, the effective length of the strap can be increased by either a pull on bight l2 or a pull in the opposite direction on the frame 9, the loop l I merely traveling over, theireeV roller 22, and by pulling on the free end I3, thef.

effective length of the strap can, be decreased.

Consequently, by training thest-rap about arload 8, connecting hooks 3B of the means i'l with the.

end IS of the frame, and simply pulling von the free end i3, the resultant tautness ofthe-strap` will ei'ect a straightening of the mentionedpor.

tion thereof between rollers 22 and 2&3. Said strap-portion.willlift the lever 21 tocause roller 2,6 to rock in,V aV strap-grippingv direction. The force oithepuillmay approach the strength of the strap and yet-upon release of the free end i3, the means` ltwill effectivelygrip the strap, it being evident that the eccentric grips stronger under greater tension,A

Whenrelease of the buckle is desired, a simple manual pushon lever 2 in the direction of arrow 3j will effect release rotation ofV eccentric 2t and, therefore, aslackingoii' of the strap. The power advantage obtained by the length oi'V lever 2l over any, tensionon the strap is readily effective to effectY thisrelease andthe same may be accomplished, in most instanoes, with the pressure of thethumb.

When the, strapissufciently slacked oir", the hooks 3i) may be disengaged from the buckle frame, the straplaid open, and the cargo loadremoved. In orderjto rnininfiize the friction between thelever 2l' andthe strap surface 2%, said'lever may, be, provided' with a roller, instead of the curvedportion 2.8. Suitable lugs, struck from the lever, may serve to mount said roller.

In use, when moving a cargo load, the lever may inadvertently encounter a posta hatch frame, etc. and be inadvertently depressed to effect spillage of the cargo load; To obviate this occurring, the .means,l6', comprising a rod or wire 3,2 weldedtothe frame, is provided in overstand'- ingrelationto lsaid lever so as to protect the saine. The means I6 also serves to limit the outer movement oithelever 2l.

Whilev I have illustrated and described what Ivnowi regard as theY preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish torestrict myself to the particularformvof construction'illustrated and described; but desire to avail myself of all modications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desireA to secure by Letters Patent is: l. A, buckle for. connecting the' ends of a strap c omprisinga frame, a roller mounted transversely in the frame, one end of the strap being trained oversaid-roller and doubled back in the direction of. the,- bight ofV the strap` to. form afreeA end, Wedging means carried by said frame in spaced relation to the roller andioperable togrip said free end intermediate its length, an unsupported portion of said free end r of the strap extending between the roller and the wedging means, an extension onrsaid wedgingmeansdirected to impinge on'said unsupported portion and held by the latter strap portion, when the same is taut, to hold the wedgin-g means in gripping relation with the strap, and means on the other end of the strap having separable connection with the frame.

2J A buckle for connecting the ends of a strap comprisinga frame, a roller mounted transversely in the frame, one end of' the strap being trained over said roller and doubled back in the direction of the bight of the strapto form a free end, wedging means carried by said frame in spaced relation to the roller and operable to grip said free end` intermediate its length, said wedging meanscomprising a transversely disposed eccentric member and a pressure bar associated therewith, an unsupported portion of said free end of thestrap-extending between the roller and the wedging means, an extension on the eccentric member of said wedging means directed to impinge on said unsupported portion and heldby the latteri strap portion, when thev samel isgtaut, to holdthe eccentric; member in position to' grip the strapzagainstthepressure bar, and` means on. the other end ofthe straphavingseparable connection with the frame. l

3. A buckle'for connecting the-ends'ot a strap comprising a frame, a roller mounted transversely in the frame, oneend ofthe strap beinggseparabl'y connected to the frame, the otherend'ofthestrap being trained around and over said roller to-provide ak doubledback strap-tautening free-end; a pressure plate on saidgframe, ari-eccentric-wedge associatedv with the'plate tol grip-anin-termediate portion' Osaid free end and mounted to retain tautness of the strapand to release itsgr-ip-under pull-on saidireeend, an unsupported portionof saidiree end of the strapextend-ing betweenithe roller` and the' wedge, and-.arr extension on said eccentric wedge directed to impinge on said/'1unsupportedd portion and' held by# the latterstrap portion, when the sameis; taut, to` automatically holdV the eccentric wedge-in position=to-gripvthe strap against thelpressure plate,I said' extension being manually depressibleto-movefthe eccentric e wedge out or" strap-gripping positionto eifectfrelease of thestrap` endgby-the eccentric wedge;

4; A buckle for; connecting the endsf off astrap comprisingairtime,` a roller mounted-transverse'- ly in the frame,- one endh offthe strap bei-ng separably connectedto theefrarne; the other end or" the strap being trainedgaround-andf-'oversaid roller` to provideV a doubled baCkstrap-tautening free; end, apressure'plate -onsaidraYine,4 aneccentricl wedge associated with theA plate to grip' an intermediate portionofesaidefreeendfand mounted to` retain tautnessofthestrapandto release its grip underpullon said-ireeend; an unsupportedw portion ofsaid free-endfextending-between the roller, and the wedge; air-extension onsaid eccentric wedge directed toimpingeon said unsupported portiorrand'heldjb-y the-latterV strap portion, when the same=is taut,- teau-tematically hold the eccentric wedge ingposition to-grip=tlie strap against' the pressureplate;l saidextension being, manuallyA depressible to move the-eccentric wedge outy oi `strap-gripping-positionto Aeect re lease` of the strap end "by 'the' eccentricvvedge,,and means having overstanding relation to-thee extensionto protect thelatter against inadvertent depression.

5,. A kstrap ,buckle comprising; a generally rectangular frame, a rollermountedftransversely at an intermediate partv of'f frame for'aY loop. formed by', training:I the strapvv over thex roher;- a

xed" pressure bar' transverse'V of the frame; one

run of the strap loop extending over the bar and the other under the an eccentric wedge mounted above the bar r'for gripping said upper run of the strap between itself and the bar, a rock pivot for the eccentric wedge, the upper run of the strap including anunsupported portion extending between the roller and the wedge, and "'an extension on the wedgei having impinging en- 'gagement with said unsupported portion of the upper run of the strap to h old the eccentric wedge in position to grip the strap against said bar.

6. A strap buckle comprising a generally rectangular frame, a roller'fmounted transversely at an intermediate part of'; the frame for a loop formed by training the strap over the roller, a fixed pressure bar transverse of the frame, one run of the strap loopf extending over the bar and the other under the bar, an eccentric wedge mounted above the bar v'fr gripping said upper run of the strap betweeri'itself and the bar, a rock pivot for the eccentric wedge, the upper run of the strap including, an unsupported portion extending between the roller and the wedge, and an extension on the wedge having impinging engagement with said unsupported portion of the upper run of the strap `Ato hold the eccentric wedge in position to grip the strap against said bar, said extension being directed toward the roller and adapted to be manually depressed to rock the eccentric wedge in a strap-releasing direction. Y

7. A strap bucklecomprising a -generally rectangular frame, a roller mounted transversely at an intermediate part of Athe frame for a loop formed by training the, strap over the roller, a xed pressure bar transverse of the frame, one run of the strap loop extending over the bar and the other under the bar,y an eccentric wedge mounted above the bar for gripping said upper run'of the strap between `itself and the bar, a

. 40 rock pivot for the eccentric wedge, the upper run of the strap including an unsupported portion extending between the roller and the wedge, an extension; on the wedge having impinging engagement with said unsupported portion of the upper run of the strap to hold the eccentric wedge in position to grip the strap against said bar, and a iiXed transverse member having overstanding relation to said extension to protect the latter against inadvertent strap-releasing depression.

8. In a stfap buckle, a roller over which a strap having a free end is trained, automatic wedging means spaced from the roller for gripping said free strap end upon tension being applied to the: strap to draw said free end in a direction toward the roller, s aid free end of the strap having an unsupported flexible portion extending between the roller and the wedging means and which is tautened by'the tension on the strap, and an extension on said wedging means having impinging engagement with the mentioned unsupported portion of the strap and held by the strap to releasably hold the wedging means in strap-gripping position, said flexible portion of the strap yielding to manual depression of the extension and the wedg'ing means moving to non-gripping position when the extension is depressed.

EDWIN C. ELSNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fue of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 238,247 Parsons Mar. 1, 1881 1,505,125 Armstrong Aug. 19, 1924 2,429,926 Davis Oct. 28, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 155,550 Germany Nov. 1, 1904 

